Making Mina Strings Attached(23)

“I don’t see how,” he argued quietly, “you wanted this. You wanted me. You still want me.” He plucked a nipple, eliciting a groan from her as it hardened under his fingers. “You cannot run away from me this time. I will not allow it.”

His words washed over her, and she thrilled at the determination in his voice.

“Oh I wasn’t thinking about running away,” she rolled slightly, shifting so she could bring her hand up to cup his whisker-rough jaw. “I was just realizing that we’re going to have to move all my clothes again.” Her eyes darkened and her lips parted as she leaned up to kiss him. “It would be terribly inconvenient to have to go to the other end of the apartment to get dressed every morning.”

Understanding flared in Marco’s eyes and the look on his face left her breathless.

“You’re assuming that if you stay here I will let you out of bed.” A long finger trailed hotly down her body, leaving her shivering in its wake, and she nodded.

“You’ll have to let me up,” she said, turning her face into his shoulder, hoping he wouldn’t see the blush staining her cheeks. “If you don’t then I’ll never get to have sex in an elevator.”

Marco’s fingers stilled and for a moment there was nothing but silence. Mina waited, certain that she’d crossed a line, but then a rumble started deep in his chest, rising and getting louder until his whole body was shaking with laughter as he held her.

“My God, you never cease to amaze me,” he said when his amusement had finally faded. “No woman has ever kept me guessing the way you have.”

Mina’s earlier embarrassment disappeared, replaced by a warm feeling of contentment as she realized that she could probably say anything to this man and he’d accept it, and her, and never think less of her for it. She smiled to herself and Marco raised an eyebrow in inquiry. “What are you smiling at now, my little wanton? Is there another itch you would particularly like scratched?”

Mina sighed, knowing that Marco would rise to the challenge no matter what fantasy she came up with, but she shook her head—there was plenty of time to explore the physical freedom Marco promised. Right now she was simply enjoying being with him. “No, I’m just happy.”

Marco looked down at her, his eyes surprisingly gentle. “I am very glad to hear that.” He shifted them so they were wrapped around each other, caressing her until the motion lulled her to the edge of sleep.

“I dreamed of this the first night we were together,” he said softly, so as not to break the hypnotic spell of his fingers. “I held you in the darkness and imagined how it would be holding you, making love to you every night. To know that you’d be in my bed. Always.”

Always. The word caused Mina’s breath to hitch in her throat.

“Does the reality live up to your fantasy?” Her words were light, but her heart stopped in her chest as she waited for his answer.

“Absolutely.” There was no question in his voice and Mina released the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “This time you’re real.”

“That’s not always a good thing,” she whispered, needing to voice at least some of her fears.

“Having you with me is always a good thing.” His voice brooked no argument and Mina snuggled tightly against him, hoping, for once, that she was wrong.

They lay like that, silently, until Mina felt herself slipping into the dark comfort of sleep, the only reality being Marco’s arms around her, and the tethers of new love binding her tightly.

“Do you have a passport?” The words jarred her into half-wakefulness and she raised up on her elbows to look at him. “Yes. Of course. Why?”

Marco nudged her back down on the bed, unhappy that she’d left his embrace. His voice was thick and sleepy. “You will need it if you’re to come home with me.” He patted her hip and yawned. “Don’t worry about it. I will take care of everything tomorrow.”

His hand slid up and rested possessively on her breast, his fingers curled around the weight of it, not willing to let her go even in sleep.

“You’re going to love Italy,” he murmured, a soft satisfied sound. “And my family is going to love you.”

Mina’s eyes snapped open in the darkness.

His family?